Geelani aide passed secret information to Pakistan: NIA

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August 01, 2017 14:28

Devinder Singh Behal, a close aide of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, whose premises were raided by the NIA on Sunday in the J-K terror funding case, was allegedly in touch with people in the Pakistani high commission and may have leaked national secrets, including Indian troop movement details, to the ISI.

"We suspect that Behal, who has been in close contact with people in Pakistan HC, was passing on classified information to alleged ISI moles, putting national security at risk. This is a serious offence and a potential ground to charge him under Section 121 of IPC (waging war against the state)," a senior NIA officer said.

Preliminary probe by the investigating agency found that Behal, who heads the Jammu & Kashmir Social Peace Forum and is also a member of the Hurriyat's legal cell, has been publicly raising pro-azaadi slogans and exhorting Kashmiris not to let the "martyrdom" of militants go in vain.

The NIA will question Behal and may move for his arrest soon. An NIA source said Behal had visited Pakistan at least 5-6 times.